1 Corinthians 7

1 Now, concerning the things of which you wrote me: It is good for a man not to marry a woman.

Now concerning the question in your letter. It is well for a man to have no intercourse with a woman,

2 Nevertheless, on account of uncleanness, let every man have a wife of his own, and let every woman have her own husband.

but because there is so much immorality let each man have his own wife; and let each women have her own husband.

3 Let the husband fulfill his obligations to his wife: and in like manner, also, the wife to the husband.

Let the husband give his wife her due, and likewise the wife her husband. The wife is not mistress of her own person,

4 The wife has not the command of her own person, but the husband: and in like manner, also, the husband has not the command of his own person, but the wife.

but her husband is; and in the same way the husband is not master of his own person, but his wife is.

5 Deprive not one another, unless, perhaps, by consent, for a time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; and do you come again together, that Satan may not tempt you through your incontinency.

Do not refuse one another, unless it is only temporary and by mutual consent, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again, lest through your lack of self-control Satan begin to tempt you to sin.

6 But this which follows I speak as an advice, and not as an injunction,

But what I have just said is by way of concession, not command.

7 that I wish all men to be as I myself am. However, each has a proper gift from God; one, indeed, after this manner, and another after that.

I would that every one lived as I do; but each man has his own special gift from God, one this, another that.

8 I say, to the unmarried men, and to the widows, it is good for them if they can remain even as I do.

But to the unmarried, and the widows, I say that it is well for them to remain as I am.

9 Yet, if they can not live continently, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to be in pain.

If, however, they are not exercising self-control, by all means let them marry; for marriage is better than the fever of passion.

10 Now, those who have married I charge, (yet not I, but the Lord; ) let not a wife depart from her husband:

But to those already married my commandment is - and not mine, but the Lord’s - that a wife is not to leave her husband;

11 but if she even depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband; and a husband must not put away his wife.

(or if she has already left him let her either remain as she is, or be reconciled to him), and also that a husband is not to put away his wife.

12 But the rest I command, not the Lord; if any brother have an infidel wife, who herself is well pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.

To the rest it is I who am speaking, not the Lord. If any brother has a wife who is not a believer, if he is willing to live with her, let him not send her away.

13 And a woman who has an infidel husband, who himself is well pleased to dwell with her, let her not put him away.

And a woman whose husband is not a believer, if he is willing to live with her, let her not separate from him.

14 For the infidel husband is sanctified by the wife, and the infidel wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise, certainly, your children were unclean; whereas, indeed, they are holy.

For the unbelieving husband is consecrated through union with his believing wife; and the unbelieving wife, through union with her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unholy, but now they are consecrated to God.

15 But if the infidel depart, let him depart: the brother or the sister is not in bondage with such; but God has called us to peace.

But if the unbelieving partner be determined to leave, separation let it be. In such cases the believing husband or wife is not under bondage. But it is into peace that God has called us.

16 For how do you know, O wife! whether you shall save your husband? And how do you know, O husband! whether you shall save your wife?

For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

17 But as God has distributed to every one, and as the Lord has called every one, so let him walk; and so, in all the congregations, I ordain.

Only whatever be the lot in life to which God has assigned each one - and whatever the condition in which he was living when God called him- -in that let him continue. Such is the rule I give in all the churches.

18 Has any circumcised one been called? Let him not be uncircumcised. Has any one been called in uncircumcision? Let him not be circumcised.

So, was any man called, being circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was any man called when he was uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised.

19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.

Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commands in everything.

20 Let every one remain in the same calling in which he was called.

Whatever be the condition of life in which he was called, in that let him continue.

21 Were you called, being a bondman? Be not careful to be made free. Yet, if you can be made free, prefer it.

Were you called in slavery? Let not that trouble you; but if you can become free make use of the opportunity.

22 For a bondman, who is called by the Lord, is the Lord's freedman. In like manner, also, a freedman who is called, is Christ's bondman.

For the slave who has been called in the Lord is the Lord’s freedman; and in the same way, the free man who is called is Christ’s slave.

23 You were bought with a price: become not the slaves of men.

You have been brought with a price; do not become slaves to men.

24 Brethren, in what state each one was called, in that let him remain with God.

Where each man stood when he was called, there, brothers, let him stay, close to God.

25 Now, concerning virgins, I have not a commandment of the Lord: but, I give my judgment, as having obtained mercy of the Lord, to be faithful.

I have no command from the Lord to give you concerning unmarried women; but I give you my opinion, and it is that of a man who, through the Lord’s mercy, is deserving of your confidence.

26 I declare this, then, to be good, on account of the present distress; namely, that it is good for a man who is unmarried, to continue so.

I think then, that in view of the time of suffering now imminent, it is best for a man to remain as he is.

27 Are you bound to a wife? seek not to be loosed. Are you loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.

Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. Are you free from the marriage bond? Do not seek for a wife.

28 And yet, if you marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she has not sinned: nevertheless, affliction in the flesh such shall have; but I spare you.

Yet if you do not marry, you have not done wrong; and if a girl marries, she has not done wrong. Such people, however, will have trouble in worldy affairs, and I wish to spare you.

29 Now, this I say, brethren, the time being short, it remains that both they who have wives, should be as not having wives;

Indeed, brothers, the time that remains to us has been shortened; so let those who have wives live as if they had none,

30 and they who weep, as not weeping; and they who rejoice, as not rejoicing; and they who buy, as not possessing;

let those who weep be as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not possess,

31 and they who use this world, as not abusing it: for the form of this world passes by.

and those who use the world as though using it sparingly. For the present phase of the world is passing away.

32 Besides, I would have you without anxious care. The unmarried man anxiously cares for the things of the Lord; how he shall please the Lord.

So I want you to be free from all anxieties. An unmarried man is anxious about the Lord’s business, how he may please the Lord;

33 But he who is married, anxiously cares for the things of the world; how he shall please his wife.

but a married man is anxious about worldly affairs, how he may please his wife, and he is divided in his mind.

34 There is the like difference between the wife and the virgin. The unmarried woman anxiously cares for the things of the Lord; that she may be holy, both in body and spirit: but she who is married, anxiously cares for the things of the world; how she shall please her husband.

Again, the woman who is widow, or the maid, is anxious about the Lord’s business, how she may be pure in body and in mind; but the married woman is anxious about worldly affairs, how she may please her husband.

35 Now, this I say, for your own benefit; not with a view to lay a snare for you, but for that which is becoming, and best adapted to a steady, uninterrupted adherence to the Lord.

It is in your own interest that I say this; not that I may entangle you in a snare, but that I may help you to serve the Lord with fitting and undistracted service.

36 But if any one thinks he acts improperly toward his virgin, if she be above age, unmarried, and so needs to be married; let him do what she inclines, he does not sin: let such marry.

If, however, a father feels that he is not treating his virgin daughter in a seemly manner, in leaving her unmarried beyond the flower of her age, and so the matter is urgent, let him do what she desires; he commits no sin. Let the marriage take place.

37 But he who stands firm in his heart; not having necessity, and has power concerning his own will; and has determined this in his own heart, to keep his virgin, does well.

On the other hand, he who is firm in his purpose and is under no compulsion, but is free to carry out his own wishes, and who has determined to keep his daughter unmarried, does well.

38 So, then, even he who gives her in marriage, does well; but he who gives her not in marriage, does better.

So he that gives his daughter in marriage is doing right, and he who keeps her unmarried will be doing right, and he who keeps her unmarried will be doing better.

39 A wife is bound, as long as her husband lives; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she pleases; only in the Lord.

A wife is bound to her husband during his lifetime; but if her husband dies, she is free to marry whomever she will, provided it be in the Lord.

40 But she is happier if she continue as she is. This is my opinion; and I think I have the Spirit of God.

But she is happier, in my judgment, if she remains as she is; and I think that I, too, have the Spirit of God.